Sacrifice and Selflessness in The Motorcycle Diaries and Something Fierce

This article explores the themes of sacrifice and selflessness in the literary works 'The Motorcycle Diaries' by Ernesto Che Guevara and 'Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter' by Carmen Aguirre. It discusses the journey of self-discovery and the hardships faced during the Chilean revolution. The article also highlights the sacrifices made by the central characters for the sake of their nation and the improvement of the condition of the poorer sections of society.

Running head: SACRIFICE AND SELFLESSNESS
Sacrifice and Selflessness
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1SACRIFICE AND SELFLESSNESS
“This is not a story of heroic feats, or merely the narrative of a cynic; at least I do not mean it
to be. It is a glimpse of two lives running parallel for a time, with similar hopes and
convergent dreams.”
The above quoted lines of “Ernesto Che Guevara” from his famous work “The
Motorcycle Diaries” gives an overview of entire work in a nutshell. The literary work can be
seen as a narrative of the transformation which Guevara underwent during his travel into the
heart of the continent of South America. The 23 year old Guevara was a medical student at
the time he undertook this particular adventurous trip with his friend he comes to see the
ugliness as well as the mundane realities of the continent of South America. More
importantly the journey undertaken by him can be seen as a modern day journey of self-
discovery where the modern Odysseus comes to realize the purpose of his life. The literary
work “Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter” of Carmen Aguirre is an
account of her own childhood and her life to be precise during the time of the Chilean
resistance. The work chronicles the hardships as well as the sacrifices made by the people and
Aguirre in particular during the time of the Chilean revolution. The work can be seen as a
deep reflection on the hardships which people had to face on the score of the Chilean
revolution.
The concept of sacrifice lies at the heart of this particular literary work. The most
pertinent example of this particular fact that the sacrifice made by the character of Guevara
for the cause of his nation. Guevara sacrifices his promising career as a medical professional
for the sake of his nation. This particular fact becomes very apparent in the words of the
authors when he says that “Let the world change you and you can change the world”.
Furthermore, another pertinent example of this particular fact is the self realization of the
author “And then many things became very clear... we learned perfectly that the life of a
single human being is worth millions of times more than all the property of the richest man

2SACRIFICE AND SELFLESSNESS
on earth”. Aguirre also had to give up her career as well as prospects of a peace life for the
sake for her nation and the happy prospects of the nation in the future time. It is significant to
note that she leaves her peaceful abode to fight for the cause of the revolution.
The theme of selflessness has also been adequately explored in the literary work
under consideration here. This becomes apparent during the stay as well as the services
provided by the author at the leprosy camp. It is significant to note that at the time when this
particular book was the people suffering from leprosy had to face much discrimination and
stigmatization. However, Guevara undertakes to help these without the help of the
precautionary equipments used by the other doctors. At this particular point it was believed
that leprosy was an infectious disease which could be transmitted through touch. However,
Guevara sought to change the belief of the people through his refusal to take the help of
safety equipments and thereby tried to bring a little amount of joy to their otherwise mundane
lives. He justifies his action in the novel by saying that “Above all, always be capable of
feeling deeply any injustice committed against anyone, anywhere in the world”. Aguirre, on
the other hand, had to work a daytime job for her subsistence and during nights she used to
work for the cause of the revolution. The makeup which she used to wear can be seen as a
reflection of the dual life which she was leading at that particular point of time.
The selflessness of the central character also becomes apparent in his desire to
improve the condition of the poorer sections of the people. It is a reflection of this particular
that he says “We are looking for the bottom part of the town. We talk to many beggars. Our
noses inhale attentively the misery”. As a matter of fact Guevara says that he had turned to
politics so that he can improve the condition of the poorer section of the society. Aguirre, on
the other hand, battles fear and various kinds of tortures for the sake of the future of her
nation. She is known for the efforts which she made to ensure that the people of her nation
would have a happy future.

3SACRIFICE AND SELFLESSNESS
To conclude, the themes of sacrifice as well as selflessness form an important part of
the literary work “The Motorcycle Diaries” and “Something Fierce: Memoirs of a
Revolutionary Daughter”. These works in a way try to show the mundane realities of the
South American continent before the revolution actually changed things in those nations.